Environmental responsibility

Alma Media's stakeholder study showed that environmental issues are important to the company's stakeholders. That is why a more systematic approach to shouldering the environmental responsibility was an important part of Alma Media's environmental year 2009. During the year, the most significant environmental effects of the organisation were identified and reporting on key indicators developed. This work will continue under the management of an environmental working group to be set up in 2010. Alma Media aims at continuously improving its CR reporting and the dialogue with the stakeholders.

The carbon footprint of a newspaper equals that of a kilometre's car drive

The Federation of the Finnish Media Industry participated in funding a study by the forest industry research centre KCL on the carbon footprint of a newspaper. The carbon footprint of a typical Finnish newspaper, covering the entire lifecycle of the printed product from the forest through papermaking and printing to distribution to households, disposal and recycling, is 150-190 g CO2e (Equivalent Carbon Dioxide; describes the entire climatic impact of a product converted into carbon dioxide). The climatic burden of a Finnish newspaper is roughly the same as that of a one-kilometre car trip or a kilo of apples transported from France to Finland.

Knowing the carbon footprint is important in order to direct climate protection activities correctly. The electricity used by the paper mill producing the newsprint is the largest single source of climatic impact in the lifecycle of a newspaper. In the publishing company's operation, the energy efficiency of printing and the selection of the energy form mean the most. Readers can also help reduce the newspaper's carbon footprint. Recycling the newspaper after use will make the carbon footprint one-fifth smaller.

Aamulehti's carbon footprint estimated slightly lower than Finnish average

UPM-Kymmene has calculated the carbon footprint of Aamulehti, a part of Alma Media, for its paper manufacture and transport. By applying the KCL carbon footprint profile to UPM-Kymmene's calculation, the total carbon footprint of Aamulehti figures out at approximately 140-160 g CO2e per copy. Aamulehti's carbon footprint is thus at the lower end of KCL's average range. Aamulehti's carbon footprint is reduced, among other things, by the use of biofuels at the paper mill and the short distance from the mill to the printing facility.

The carbon footprint of a printed and an online newspaper in the same range

So far, there are few comparative studies on the environmental impact of a printed newspaper and an online newspaper but research by the Swedish Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (Royal Institute of Technology) indicates that there is no significant difference between the carbon footprints of these two products in Nordic conditions. However, the comparison is difficult as the size of an online newspaper's carbon footprint depends on such factors as the reading time and the energy efficiency of the computer used.

New printing facility gives a direction to environmental responsibility

The biggest environmental impact of Alma Media's own operations is generated by printing, in particular the energy consumption of the printing facilities. The Group's total electricity consumption decreased in 2009 due to efficiency initiatives and volume savings caused by the economic downturn. In late 2009, Alma Media announced it had begun to prepare a significant investment in a new printing facility. The new facility, due to start in Tampere in 2013, will significantly improve the energy and material efficiency of the printing operations, thus reducing the company's environmental impact where it is largest.

The Group's carbon dioxide emissions from direct and indirect energy consumption and air travel are now being reported for the first time. In future, the emission calculations will be complemented, for example, by including heating into the total CO2 emissions. Alma Media's direct greenhouse gas emissions totalled approximately 723 tonnes in 2009 and its indirect carbon dioxide emissions totalled approximately 2520 tonnes. The majority (68%) of the electricity used by the company is generated by renewable carbon neutral energy forms and by nuclear power, which is almost carbon neutral.
Alma Media has participated in Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a global carbon reporting initiative, since 2008.

Since 2009, Alma Media reports the VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions of all of its three printing facilities. In 2009, these totaled approximately 12,745 kg. VOC emissions are caused by cleansing agents needed in printing and additives to the water used for humidification. The choice of chemicals has notably reduced VOC emissions, and the modern equipment to be used in the new printing facility starting up in 2013 is expected to further reduce the emissions.

Alma Media's main raw materials are recyclable and renewable

One of Alma Media's most significant environmental aspects is the Group's paper consumption. Most of the paper used is recyclable newsprint. Other notable materials include printing inks and plates. Environmental considerations are a significant part of purchase decisions made by the printing and distribution operations.

Alma Media is made of recycled fibre. In Finland, the recycling rate of newsprint is very high, approximately 70-80%. Newsprint fibre can be reused six or seven times. The printing plates used in Alma Media's printing presses are also recycled and used as industrial raw material.

Environmentally friendly delivery practices

As indicated by the newspaper's carbon footprint, transport - of which newspaper distribution constitutes a part - accounts for some 8% of the climatic impact of a newspaper. Thus, newspaper distribution only comprises a minor share of the total climatic impact. Alma Media has its own distribution operating in the Pirkanmaa, Pori and Kemi-Tornio regions. In other parts of the country, external delivery services are used.

A major part of the delivery routes are served by bicycle or on foot. For example, motor vehicles are used on only one-third of all delivery routes in the Pirkanmaa province. In addition, deliverers are offered training in economical driving. One of Alma Media's environmental goals is to start reporting all distribution-related transport and their CO2 emissions.

Alma Media implemented a new environmental corporate car policy in 2009. It sets the emission limit of new company cars at 190 g CO2e per kilometre. The goal is to lower the limit as the average emissions of vehicles are reduced. The economic downturn and increased environmental consciousness also reduced the Group's emissions related to business travel from the previous years: in 2009, the number of trips by air was reduced by 50%. Operating in different parts of Finland and internationally, the Group also utilises environmentally friendly remote meetings. Rail travel, low in CO2 emissions, is preferred for business travel within Finland.

Inspiring content

In addition to its direct environmental impact, Alma Media's newspapers and online services encourage their readers and visitors to make sustainable choices. For example, Aamulehti's 2009 Climate series highlighted three families as examples of how all readers can decrease their carbon footprints by paying attention to their everyday choices. Kauppalehti examined how environmental issues affected companies' choices of cars, and Iltalehti offers its readers test-based information on choosing environmentally friendly consumer goods. Alma Media's web-based marketplaces have built-in environmental friendliness as online transactions usually reduce both material usage and people's need to travel, which results in a reduced environmental impact.

Page last updated 30.07.2010